Switch



Aug. 25, 1931. VON HOORN 1,820,683

- SWITCH Filed Jan. 28 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESSES:

INVENTCR Fred G. Van Hporn.

JAG". MM

02 I w ATTORNEY Aug: '25, 1931. F. G. VON HOORN I SWITCH Filed Jan. 28 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet '2 Fly. 2

WILFNESSES: INVENTOR flm 8 Frec/GVM H ar/2.

y W I w BY 7ATT'ORNEY Aug. 25, 1 931. F. G. VON HOORN 1,820,683

7 SWITCH Filed Jan. 28 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 WITNESSES: INVENTOR (fl 1 Fraa 6 Von Hoar/7.

wvw ORN Patented Aug. 25, 1931 Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE arr. ram) G.

MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA SWITCH My invention relates to circuit-controlling apparatus and particularly to switches that are ada ted for use in theatres.

One ject of my invention is to provide an electrical switch that shall have both a stable and an unstable circuit making position. Another object of'my invention is to prom vide an electrical switchboard such that an ""1 operator may permanently or temporarily complete .a pluralit of electrical circuits by operating a plura ity of separate switches luring a continuous sweeping movement of one hand.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simple switch mechanism that shall retain a switch arm in operative position whenthe latter is moved in one direction and shall bias it to a neutral position '20 when it is moved in the other direction.

In the operation of theatrical switchboards, 't frequently happens that a large number of circuits must be controlled sub- 6 'stantially simultaneously by a single operator. Sometimes it is desired that such circuits shall be energized but momentarily, as in case it is desired to produce a flash upon the stage or to initiate movement of a circuit controlled by a relay; while in 3 other cases it is necessary that the circuit shall be energized continuously, as when the footlights are kept on during an entire act or where a motor is run continuously. The requirements of theatrical switchboards are such that the same circuit is likely to demand both types of control during the same performance. Accordingly, I have devised a switch that is capable of either momentarily energizing a circuit and then interrupting the circuit or of continuously energizing the circuit, as the case may be.

, In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a side'view, partially in elevation and partially in section,of a switchboard embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a rear face view of the structure shownin-Fig. 1,. and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the switchboard taken along the section line III-J11 Application filed January 28, 1926. Serial No. 84,374.

of Fig. 2, the switch levers being shown in their extreme positions.

My invention comprises 1n general a VON H00, 0! MANSFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC &'

switchboard comprising a base 1, of slate or V n other suitable insulating material, that supports a plurality of switch units 2, each of which has a bridging member 3 for temporarily completing a circuit between terminals 4 and 5 or for permanently completing a circuit between terminals 6 and 7.

Any number of switch units 2 may be mounted upon the base 1 and, while 1 prefer to have the bridging member momentarily complete a circuit when in its upward position and to complete the perma-* nent circuit when it is in its lower position, the relative positions of these contact members may be reversed when desired. The

base 1 is provided with customary brackets 8 for securing it to any desired portion of a building or supporting structure, not shown.

Each br1dgmg member 3 is loosely mounted in an insulating bushing 9 that is carried by a lever 11 extending through a slot 12 in the base 1 and is pivotally mounted as at 13 on a saddle 14 that bridges the slot 12 longitudinally. The other end of the lever 11 terminates in a handle 15 of suitable insulating material. It will thus be seen that the handles 15 of the several switches 2 are mounted 011 one side of the base 1 while the contact members are mounted on the opposite side of the base 1. A cover plate 16 may be connected between the brackets 8 when desired, thereby insuring safety for the operator.

Each of the levers 11 is bifurcated as at 17 for a portion of its length to the left The lower or outer edge on the bridging member 14 and a boss 27 on the arm 23, whereby the roller 22 tends to normally bias the lever 11 into its neutral position.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the lever 11 is so disposed in the slot 12 that it normally is nearer the terminals 4 and 5 than to the terminals 6 and 7. By reason of this disposition of the lever 11 in the slot 12, it is possible to move lever 11 downwardly through a greater angle than it is possible to move it upwardly, with the result that when it is moved downwardly, it is possible for the roller 22 to move outside of the ear 19, in which position the ear 19 is below the center line of the roller 22 and the pivot 13. This is the stable position of the switch and the switch in the lower portion of Fig. 3 is shown in thatposition.

Referring particularly to the upper portion of Fig. 3, it is to be noted thatwhen the bridging member 3 is moved to its upward position, the ear 20 does not crossthe center line of the roller 22 and the pivot 13, whereby the roller 22 remains on the inside of the notched portion 18 and biases the arm 11 back to its neutral position. This is the unstable position of the switch. The upper switch, Fig. 3, is illustrated in its unstable position.

Each of the terminals 4-, 5, 6 and 7 is connected to a binding post 28 at the front of the switchboard 1. The several binding posts 28 are connected to suitable circuits as may be desired. By this arrangement, the connections at the front of the switchboard may be altered without running cables in the path of the blade member 3 and terminals 4:, 5, 6 and 7 by removing the cover plate 16.

In the operation of a switchboard equipped with a plurality of my switches let it be assumed that a large number of circuits require simultaneous momentary energization. At such a time, the several switches will be alined, as shown in Fig. 1, that is, in their neutral position. The operator then moves his hand with a sweeping motion downwardly and successively against the several handles 15 and moves them into positions corresponding to that of the switch shown in the upper portion of Fig. 3. For this operation, it is better that the unstable positions of the switch handles shall be the lowermost, although it is not absolutely necessary. After the operators hand has left each handle 15, the rollers 22 and springs 25 serve to return the bridging members 3 into their neutral positions by reason of the several rollers 3 not having crossed the points of the ears 20.

However, should it be desired to move the several. switches to their stable or continuously energized positions, the operator raises the several handles 15, as isshown in the lower portion of Fig. 3, whereupon the several rollers 5 pass over the corners of the ears 19 and retain the bridging members 3 in their lower positions, In order to return the bridging members 3 to their neutral positions from their stable contact-making positions, it is necessary to give the several handles 15 a slight downward move ment sufficient to move the ears 19 above the center lines of the rollers 22 and the piva simple switch that is normally biased to a neutral position but which is capable of movement either to an unstable contact making position or to a stable contact making position without the expenditure of a large amount of physical or mechanical effort. My switch especially lends itself to the requirements of theatrical switchboards and any number of them may be mounted in alinement. My switch is also adapted for other applications.

It is to be understood that such changes may be made in the structure and arrangement of parts as shall fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a switch structure, a pivotally mounted contact member, co-operating stationary contact members, and resilient means for normally biasing the pivoted contact member to a neutral position relative to one set of stationary contact members and means associated with said resilient means for retaining the pivoted contact member in engagement with another set of contact members.

2. In a switch structure, a plurality of spaced stationary contact members, a pivotally mounted contact member, and resilient means for normally biasing the pivoted contact member to a neutral position and means engaging the resilient means to form a stable connection with one set of spaced contact members.

3. In a switch structure, a plurality of spaced stationary contact members, a pivotally mounted contact member, and resilient means for normally biasing the pivoted contact member into a neutral position and forcausing the pivoted contact member to engage one stationary contact member when moved a predetermined distance from the neutral position, but preventing stable engagementwith the other stationary contact member at all times.

4. In a switch structure, a pivotally mounted contact member, a roller, and a member having a single notch therein cooperating with the roller and adapted to return the contact member to neutral from one position and to lock the contact members in another position.

5. In a switch structure, a pivotally mounted Contact member, a member cooperating therewith and having a single notch therein, and a roller for engaging the notched portion to return the contact member to neutral position.

6. In "a switch structure, a pivotally mounted contact member, a member cooperating therewith and having a single notch, and a resiliently biased roller engaging the single notch for imparting a bias to the contact member adapted to return it to neutral position.

7 In a; switch structure, a pivotally mounted contact member, a member cooperating therewith and having a single notch, and a roller engaging the single notch for controlling the position of the contact member, the center of the roller being so disposed relative to the pivotal axis of the contact member that a predetermined movement of the latter in one direction moves the roller out-of the notch, and a movement in the other direction will retain the roller within the notch.

8. In a switch structure, a pivotally mounted contact member, a member cooperating therewith and having a notch, and a roller engaging the notch for controlling the position of the pivotally mounted contact member, the center of the roller being so disposed relative to the pivotal axis of the contact member that a predetermined movement of the latter in one direction moves the roller out of the notch and over the edge of the notched portion while a similar movement in the opposite direction retains the roller within the notch.

19, In a switch structure, a pair of spaced contact members, a pivotally mounted contact member, and biasing means for the pivotally mounted contact member for securing a stable engagement between the pivoted contact member and one stationary contact member and an unstable engagement between the other stationary contact member and the pivoted contact member adapted to return the pivoted contact member to neutral position when in unstable position.

10. In a switch structure, a pivoted contact member, and means for biasing the contact member to a stable position in one direction and to an unstable position in the other direction.

11. In a switch structure, a pivoted con- FRED G. VON HOORN. 

